FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 30, 2020

New Resources Available for Tribes, Tribal Entities Responding to COVID-19
NCAIED develops fact sheets, website for safely procuring PPE

Mesa, AZ — The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (The National Center) has developed a comprehensive guide and accompanying website for tribes and tribal entities that need to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) during the current COVID-19 pandemic, as well as future public health crises. Titled ‘What Tribes and Tribal Entities Need to Know When Procuring Personal Protective Equipment,’ the fact sheet and website are part of the National Center’s continued efforts to serve Indian Country organizations and businesses during these challenging times.

The factsheets – a longer, comprehensive version and a shorter version – will be available publicly and free to download on https://ncaiedppeguide.org. The website can be used as a resource and guide for tribal governments, health agencies, businesses, and other entities that need PPE. These entities can also request an approved vendor list through the website. The National Center partnered with Project N95, a national clearinghouse for suppliers of PPE, to develop the website and provide easy access to the vendor list, ensuring that organizations are purchasing PPE at a reasonable cost and from a reputable and reliable vendor.

“Native American and Alaska Native communities are some of the hardest hit by COVID-19,” said Chris James, President and CEO of the National Center. “Even beyond the immediate public health crisis, many are still finding it difficult to source and procure quality and reliable PPE from reputable vendors, costing them precious time and resources when it comes to protecting their citizens and employees. We hope these new resources help our communities effectively respond to the current crisis – as well as future ones.”

The National Center plans to keep the website updated as information changes, and is also working with tribes and tribal entities to ensure they have access to this information, and to learn which tribal entities and Native-owned businesses are making their own PPE, or otherwise helping their own communities and others respond to the pandemic.

In addition, the National Center’s Native Edge Institutes (NEIs) are focused on how businesses can weather the economic challenges related to COVID-19. You can view previous NEIs on the National Center’s website at www.ncaied.org, and check back for upcoming events.

About the National Center: The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. With over 50 years of assisting American Indian Tribes and their enterprises with business and economic development – The National Center has evolved into the largest national Indian specific business organization in the nation serving over 500 clients and providing over $4 million in contracts to its clients. The National Center has nine offices throughout the nation with its home office located in Mesa, Arizona. The National Center is actively engaged in helping Tribal Nations and Native business people realize their business goals and are dedicated to putting the whole of Indian Country to work to better the lives of American Indian people – both now…and for generations to come.